Drawing from ancient and contemporary sources and practices, this complete library of essential Christian wisdom is the ideal companion for anyone heading to graduate school, studying for Christian ministry, or as a gift for someone who loves to study and learn. The Paraclete Collection.
Spirituality and Health Magazine offers a variety of reviews both in print and online. The editors have selected the best spiritual books for 1998 to 2005. For more information visit Spirituality and Health website.
Twice a year the Catholic Book Publishers Association publishes a catalog which is available to all Catholic booksellers. There are 200 books with image, description, etc. Here are a few that caught by interest:
At the Name of Jesus
The Way, the Truth, the Life
Michael O'Neill McGrath and Richard Fragomeni
World Library Publications
Wise Choices
A Spiritual Guide to Making Life Decisions
Margaret Silf
BlueBridge
Roots and Wings
The Human Journey from a Speck of Stardust to a Spark of God
Margaret Silf
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
The Monastic Way
Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living
A Book of Daily Readings
Compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild
Wm. B. Eerdmans
Blessed Among All Women
Women Saints, Prophets and Witnesses for Out Time
Robert Ellsberg
Crossroad Publishing Company
Women in Church History
21 Stories for 21 Centuries
Joanne Turpin
St. Anthony Messenger Press
From Sand to Solid Ground
Questions of Faith for Modern Catholics
Michael Morwood
Crossroad Publishing Company
Practicing Peace
A Devotional Walk through the Quaker Tradition
Catherine Whitmire
Sorin Books
Strong Was Her Faith
Women of the New Testament
J. Ellsworth Kalas
Abingdon Press
The Stories of the Old Testament
A Catholic's Guide
Jim Campbell
Loyola Press
Spirit of Books, the fall/winter catalog of the Catholic Book Publishers Association, present over 180 titles from a variety of Catholic Publishers. Here is a sampling of those titles:
An Illustrated History of the Church
The Great Challenges
Guy Bedouelle, OP
Liturgy Training Publications
1568545169
The Catholic Comparative New Testament
(features eight complete texts)
Oxford University Press
019528299X
My Life with the Saints
James Martin, SJ
Loyola Press
0829420010
From Union Square to Rome
Dorothy Day
Edited by Robert Ellsberg
Orbis Books
1570756678
In Search of Belief (Revised Edition)
Joan Chittister
Liguori Publications
0764814842
Exploring Catholic Literature: A Companion and Resource Guide, by Mary R. Reichardt provides an introduction to 12 recognized masterpieces of Catholic literature. Each chapter contains a brief biography of the author, an extended critical essay highlighting the work's Catholic and literary aspects, suggestions for further reading and study, and questions for discussion.
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions of Saint Augustine
Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
Gerard Manly Hopkins, Selected Poetry
Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter
Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory
Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited
Flannery O’Connor, Everything That Rises Must Converge
Annie Dillard, Holy the Firm
Shusaku Endo, Deep River
Denise Levertov, The Stream and the Sapphire
On February 8, 2006 I will be giving a book talk to a group of mothers of young children at St. Robert's Parish, Ada, Michigan. During the presentation, I will highlight the following titles for both children and parents. I would love to hear from you! I invite you to share your thoughts about these books in the comments section at the end of this post.
Books for Kids
Totally Lent!
3 Titles: primary grades, grades 4-6, grades 7 and up
Pflaum Publishing, 2006
$5.95 each
These Are Friends of Jesus
Shirley Neitzel
Illustrated by Benrei Huang
32 pages
Augsburg Books, 2005
$9.99
J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book
Debbie Trafton O'Neal
Jan Bryan-Hunt
32 pages
Augsburg Books, 2005
$10.99
Kids Explore America's Catholic Heritage
Young Writers Workshop
184 pages
Pauline Books, 2002
$9.95
The Loyola Book of Saints
Amy Welborn
Illustrated by Ansgar Holmberg, C.S.J.
304 pages
Loyola Press, 2001
$15.95
Every Day Bible Stories: A Bible Story for Every Day of the Year
Jane Chapman, editor
Illustrated by Anna C. Leplar
384 pages
Our Sunday Visitor, 2002
$19.95
The Faith Activities for Catholic Kids series
Grades 1-6
32 pages each
Pflaum Publishing, 2006
$6.95 each
Catholic Book of Bible Stories
Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton
Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
224 pages
Zonderkidz, 2003
$16.99
Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?
Nancy White Carlstrom
Illustrated by Lori McElrath-Eslick
32 pages
Eerdmans, 1993
$8.00
Clare and Francis
Guido Visconti
Illustrated by Bimba Landmann
40 pages
Eerdmans, 2004
$20.00
St. Francis
Brian Wildsmith
39 pages
Eerdmans, 1996
$20.00
Saints: Lives and Illuminations
Ruth Sanderson
40 pages
Eerdmans, 2003
$20.00
Catholic Encyclopedia for Children
Ann Ball with Julianne M. Will
Illustrated by Kevin Davidson
176 pages
Our Sunday Visitor, 2003
$21.95
A Child's Bedtime Companion
Sandy Henry
Illustrated by Vera Pavlova
28 pages
Ambassador Books, 2005
$12.95
Books for Parents
Spirituality in the Mother Zone: Staying Centered, Finding God
Trudelle Thomas
256 pages
Paulist Press, 2005
$16.95
Good Parents, Tough Times: How Your Catholic Faith Provides Hope and Guidance in Times of Crisis
Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese
231 pages
Loyola Press, 2005
$14.95
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Anne Lamott
320 pages
Penguin, 2005
$24.95
A Year with C.S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works
Patricia S. Klein, editor
410 pages
HarperCollins, 2003
$19.95
Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2006
Ireland Jesuit Communication Centre
377 pages
Ave Maria Press, 2005
$12.95
Bless My Child: A Catholic Mother's Prayer Book
Julie Cragon
156 pages
Ave Maria Press, 2005
$9.95
The Family Cloister
David Robinson
191 pages
Crossroad Publishing, 2000
$14.95
The Flowering of the Soul
Lucinda Vardey, editor
447 pages
Beacon Press, 1999
$16.00
The Saints' Guide to Happiness
Robert Ellsberg
221 pages
North Point Press
$23.00
Raising Faith-Filled Kids: Ordinary Opportunities to Nurture Spirituality at Home
Tom McGrath
274 pages
Loyola Press, 2000
$12.95
Catholic Mom 24/7: Daily Meditations for Busy Mothers
Tammy Bundy
300 pages
St. Anthony Messenger, 2004
$13.95
Twice a year the Catholic Book Publisher's Association provides the "Spirit of Books" catalogue to booksellers. The spring/summer 2005 edition features nearly 200 titles.
We at faithAlivebooks.com, reccomend a sampling of titles from the catalogue:
A Pilgrim People: Learning Through the Church Year by John H. Westerhoff; Seabury Classics
Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John by Jean Vanier; Paulist Press
Gospels and Acts: The Saint John's Bible by Donald Jackson; Liturgical Press
Bless My Child: A Catholic Mother's Prayer Book by Julie Cragon; Ave Maria Press
The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders: Thirty of America's Oldest Monks and Nuns Share Their Lives' Greatest Lessons by Mark W. McGinnis; BlueBridge
The Spiritual Apprenticeship of a Curious Catholic: The American Catholic Experience by Jerry Hurtubise; ACTA Publications
Women of Mercy by Kathy Coffey; Orbis Books
Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God by David Benner; InterVarsity Press
The New American Bible Concise Concordance edited by John R. Kohlenberger, III; Oxford University Press
The New American Bible Compact Edition; Oxford University Press
Patrick Samway, SJ, former literary editor of "America" and acclaimed author, chooses his top ten Catholic novels in the selection "The Ten Best Catholic Novels You'll Ever Read." It appeared in the book "I Like Being Catholic: Treasured Tradition, Rituals, and Stories."
He writes, "In much the same way that I am not sure that Catholic mathematics or Catholic watercolors exist, so too I am not sure about putting too much stock in the category of 'Catholic novels.' I do know that there are Catholic authors who write novels, but can we call their novels 'Catholic?' Since the word Catholic is not under copyright, what does it mean exactly? Should the definition of Catholic be restricted to someone who has been baptized in a Roman Catholic Church?"
For Samway's full discussion of the topic, visit faithAlivebooks.
